The embattled boss of the Brooklyn Democratic Party helped clear the way for Republican state Rep. Lester Chan to be easily re-elected this year, with the hope that in return she would be able to keep the county party in charge. The veteran lawmaker claims he received significant assistance from the government.
Democrat Peter Abert, who was scheduled to face Chan in November to reclaim the former House seat, was joined by Kings County Democratic Party Chair Rodnese Bichot Hamelin and another rival, House William Colton. He told the Post that there was “no doubt” that Rep. (D-Brooklyn) cooperated. He worked with Republicans to try to undermine his campaign.
“It’s a disgrace,” Abate fumed. “This is the first time in my memory, and even at the age of 75, that there will be no Democratic candidates for the Brooklyn Assembly seat.”
Mr. Abate said Bichot-Harmelin and Mr. Colton were “sabotaging” their own party, and that Mr. Abate and two other critics of the Brooklyn Democratic Party boss were sufficiently effective to run in the June primary. He claimed to have provided information to Republican leaders showing that he did not have enough signatures on the petition.
A state judge ruled Friday that many of the 2,260 signatures submitted by Mr. Abate and Democratic district leaders Victoria Kelly and Jimmy Lee were invalid and removed them from the ballot.
This leaves Democrats without a candidate in the general election for the 49th Congressional District seat, which represents parts of Bensonhurst, Borough Park and Sunset Park. In November 2022, Mr. Abate shockingly lost the seat he had held for 36 years, losing to Mr. Chan in the midst of a Republican surge in southern Brooklyn.
Mr. Kelly and Mr. Lee will be replaced by Colton loyalists Joyce See and Jimmy Lee, hoping that Mr. Bichotte-Hermelin has enough support from district leaders to remain party chairman. It will be a big help to secure it. Meanwhile, Bichot-Elmelin will have to fend off a rival faction led by Abbate and City Councilor Justin Brannan. and Congressman Andrew Gonaldes.
Bichot Hermelin, who had previously accused Abate of engaging in “white supremacy” by discouraging Asian candidates from running for office, called Abate’s allegations against her “baseless.”
He said the Brooklyn Democratic Party had “discovered shocking and widespread fraud” in the petitions of Mr. Abate and his allies, and that he was only helping the Asian community in lower Brooklyn “to ensure their voices are heard at the polls.” He said that.
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“This is not a question of red or blue politics,” she insisted.
Abate said he was not involved in collecting petition signatures and could not explain why hundreds were identified as fake. He has also repeatedly denied that he tried to persuade Asians not to run for office.
Before seeking a rematch with Chan, Abate was considering running against Colton in the June primary for the Colton council seat, which represents parts of Bath Beach and Bensonhurst and Gravesend.
Colton did not return messages.
